A method includes receiving a first voltage at a first input circuit of a bi-directional charge pump circuit, selectively turning on a first switch of a switching circuit that is coupled electrically to a deep N-well transistor of a first set of one or more intermediate pump stages that are coupled between the first input circuit and a first output circuit, and providing a third voltage from the first output circuit in response to receiving a second voltage at an input of a first diode of the output circuit from the first set of the one or more intermediate pump stages.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method, comprising: receiving a first voltage at a first input circuit of a bi-directional charge pump circuit; selectively turning on a first switch of a switching circuit that is coupled electrically to a deep N-well transistor of a first set of one or more intermediate pump stages that are coupled between the first input circuit and a first output circuit; providing a third voltage from the first output circuit in response to receiving a second voltage at an input of a first diode of the output circuit from the first set of the one or more intermediate pump stages; receiving the third voltage at a second input circuit of the bi-direction charge pump circuit; selectively turning on a second switch of the switching circuit that is coupled electrically to a deep n-well transistor of a second set of one or more intermediate pump stages that are coupled between the second input circuit and a second output circuit; and outputting a negative pump from the second output circuit in response to receiving a fourth voltage from the second set of one or more intermediate pump stages.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the second voltage at the input of the diode of the first output circuit causes a fifth voltage to discharge through a transistor of the first output circuit.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the third voltage is output from the first output circuit from a node coupled to an output of the first diode and to a source of the transistor.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deep N-well transistor includes a deep N-well in which a P-well is embedded, an N+ pellet is embedded within the deep N-well adjacent to the P-well and an upper surface of the N-well.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first switch of the switching circuit electrically connects the N+ pellet to the P-well when turned on.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving timing signals generated by a phase generator at the first set of the one or more intermediate pump stages.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deep N-well transistor of the second set of one or more intermediate pump stages includes a deep N-well in which a P-well is embedded, an N+ pellet is embedded within the deep N-well adjacent to the P-well and to an upper surface of deep N-well.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second switch of the switching circuit couples the N+ pellet to ground.
9. A method, comprising: receiving a first voltage at a first input circuit of a bi-directional charge pump circuit; selectively turning on a first switch of a switching circuit that is coupled electrically to a deep N-well transistor of a first set of one or more intermediate pump stages that are coupled between the first input circuit and a first output circuit; providing a positive pump having a third voltage from the first output circuit in response to receiving a second voltage at an input of a first diode of the output circuit from the first set of the one or more intermediate pump stages; receiving the third voltage at a second input circuit of the bi-direction charge pump circuit; selectively turning on a second switch of the switching circuit that is coupled electrically to a deep n-well transistor of a second set of one or more intermediate pump stages that are coupled between the second input circuit and a second output circuit; and outputting a negative pump from the second output circuit in response to receiving a fourth voltage from the second set of one or more intermediate pump stages, wherein the deep N-well transistor includes a deep N-well in which a P-well is embedded, an N+ pellet is embedded within the deep N-well adjacent to the P-well and to an upper surface of the deep N-well, and wherein the first switch of the switching circuit electrically connects the N+ pellet to the P-well.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the second voltage at the input of the diode of the first output circuit causes a fifth voltage to discharge through a transistor of the first output circuit.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the third voltage is output from the first output circuit from a node coupled to an output of the first diode and to a source of the transistor.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving timing signals generated by a phase generator at the first set of the one or more intermediate pump stages.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first switch is selectively turned on in response to receiving at least one control signal.
14. A method, comprising: receiving a first voltage at a first input circuit of a bi-directional charge pump circuit; selectively turning on a first switch of a switching circuit that is coupled electrically to deep N-well transistors of a first set of one or more intermediate pump stages that are coupled between the first input circuit and a first output circuit; receiving timing signals generated by a phase generator at the first set of the one or more intermediate pump stages; providing a positive pump having a third voltage from the first output circuit in response to receiving a second voltage at an input of a first diode of the output circuit from the first set of the one or more intermediate pump stages; receiving the third voltage at a second input circuit of the bi-direction charge pump circuit; selectively turning on a second switch of the switching circuit that is coupled electrically to deep n-well transistors of a second set of one or more intermediate pump stages that are coupled between the second input circuit and a second output circuit; and outputting a negative pump from the second output circuit in response to receiving a fourth voltage from the second set of one or more intermediate pump stages, wherein the deep N-well transistors include a deep N-well in which a P-well is embedded, an N+ pellet is embedded within the deep N-well adjacent to the P-well and to an upper surface of the deep N-well, and wherein the first switch of the switching circuit electrically connects the N+ pellet to the P-well.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein receiving the second voltage at the input of the diode of the first output circuit causes a fifth voltage to discharge through a transistor of the first output circuit.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the third voltage is output from the first output circuit from a node coupled to an output of the first diode and to a source of the transistor.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second input circuit includes a diode coupled to a transistor having its source coupled to the diode and its drain coupled to ground.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the third voltage is received at a node coupled to the diode and to the source of transistor.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 2, 2013
August 5, 2014
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